Though the deal was reached several weeks ago, the new contract between Major League Baseball and the umpires was finally ratified and signed by the men in blue late last night. Rob Neyer was looking at it and found the provision on buyouts for older umpires to be quite interesting, seeing it as a means to force out the dead wood. The comment from the umps’ lawyer on it: “The retirement issue was important to several umpires who are thinking
about it. The provisions of this contract
will allow them to do that comfortably in the near future.”

Yeah, that’s what I’d say too if a bunch of my guys were about to get forced out.

As any Shyster knows all too well, these types of negotiations are all about leverage. The Umps lost all leverage on this particular issue with the high-profile failures in big moments by the boys in blue this playoffs.

I always thought the best job in MLB was umpiring. If one is a true baseball fan (as most of us growing up), it is like saying to him; I will feed you if you eat. How can you turn it down. If it were not the best job around, why are so many umps getting their family into the business? Also, it pays very well, no matter what this last contract is. I have nothing against the umps, I just wish I had the opportunity to be one when I was younger.